Where are the best online auctions? If you're a deal seeker like we are (who isn't with prices as high as they are right now), online auctions are probably already on your radar. If they aren't, you've definitely come to the right place. There are tons of ways to find deals on things you need (and some you never knew you wanted) through online auctions.
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Public Surplus is an online auction site that's dedicated to selling items from government agencies. Whether it's surplus, obsolete technology, or seized items (from police operations), Public Surplus offers a platform for government entities to get rid of what they don't need, and get you some deals at the same time. However, the lack of recent feedback for Public Surplus is a bit of a red flag. Read on to see why.
Not as user-friendly as its competitors
Public Surplus is not the most user-friendly site to browse. In order to find a search bar to look for your favorite auction items, you'll have to click on the "search" button tucked in the top right corner of the website. Once you find it, you can look for keywords and select a specific region or government agency you want to buy from. There are additional filters like item categories, when the online auction will end, and price ranges to get better results. However, according to our research, having too many results may not be a problem.
Bid for one or multiple items
Public Surplus offers a few different types of auctions, according to its "about" page. You'll definitely find simple auctions, which are what you're probably used to from other online auction sites: there is a single item or lot sold to the highest bidder, and it includes a reserve price. Public Surplus also offers Dutch auctions, which allow multiple identical items to be listed (you can bid for one or many and specify during the bidding process). As far as we are aware, during our research, Public Surplus did not offer "buy now" auctions.
Not many lots to pick from
To compare listings at Public Surplus with the rest of the online auctions in our review, we checked out the same four categories at each site. This way, you can see what kind of inventory you can expect (though it won't be the same every day as auctions start and end). Here's what we found at Public Surplus:
Lower buyer's premiums compared to others
Public Surplus doesn't charge any fees to join as a buyer. There are buyer's premiums, but they're lower than those seen across other online auctions. You'll find between 3.5%-10% in buyer's premiums with this site. While there are a few state administration fees (depending on your location), this is on a case-by-case basis. Make sure you don't default on a bid you win, though, as there is a $200 penalty fee (or 40% of your bid price, whichever is the larger number).
No refunds for most auctions
Public Surplus's listings will individually post the refund policy. Most of the options we saw during our research stated that items are sold "as is, where-is," meaning that you won't get any kind of refund, no matter what condition your auction piece is in when you pick it up (and yes, you will be expected to pick up many of the larger items in these auctions). You are responsible for paying and retrieving items within a set time. Most auctions said 5-10 business days, but this is also controlled by the seller.
No recent reviews
Public Surplus is listed on the Better Business Bureau as "The Public Group, LLC." We double checked since the name was slightly different, but it is the same company, and sadly, that's not great news for Public Surplus. According to the BBB profile, this online auction site has an abysmal "F" rating. Further, we struggled to find reviews for Public Surplus outside of the BBB rating. We did find a handful on Sitejabber, but this showed a 1.3-star average out of 5. Further, reviews were no newer than 2019. Yikes. While some customers did like their experiences with Public Surplus, many had trouble picking up items they won, and even the 5-star reviews note that you'll only succeed at auctions here with some effort.
Low premiums are the only benefit
Public Surplus sounds like a great way to support local government agencies. However, with no recent reviews, it's hard to say how reliable this online auction is. While the buyer's premiums are lower than many of its competitors, there is no protection for refunds if you don't like what you won. For these reasons, it may be worth being cautious at Public Surplus. Due to the lower fees, it does earn a higher rating than some of our other online auctions, but overall, there are better auction sites out there for what you want (inventory, reliability, and refund policies).
Continued from above...
If you're a deal seeker like we are (who isn't with prices as high as they are right now), online auctions are probably already on your radar. If they aren't, you've definitely come to the right place. There are tons of ways to find deals on things you need (and some you never knew you wanted) through online auctions.
There are auctions for every possible need. Whether you're looking for general items like books, clothing, appliances, and more, or big-ticket items like cars, boats, or even homes, there are auctions to help you get the best deal for what you need.
Online auctions make it much easier to find what you want at a much lower cost. In years past, you'd have to keep track of auctions in your area and go visit in person to hope for getting a good deal. Now, online auctions help you track all that and combine different auctions all in one place. Looking for estate sales? You'll be able to buy items directly from an online auction site.
If you still like the thrill of bidding against others, don't worry. Many online auction sites still offer live auctions where you can bid against others, or attend auctions via video call. If you're just looking for a deal (or you find the bidding war approach too stressful for finding your next KitchenAid at a discount), you can find plenty of options on online auctions that are buy now, or that you just type in your max bid and let the auction run. If you put in the top amount, you'll be notified when you win. Easy.
There are two main types of online auctions. The first type is business-to-person. This type of online auction is where a major business or website buys items from customers or manages online auctions, estate sales, or live-streamed auctions, so it feels more like shopping at a traditional retailer for many items. Business-to-person online auctions also usually include professional item appraisals, so you can be sure the items are legit. The other main option is person-to-person online auctions. These sites allow individual sellers to list items for auction, so you'll be buying directly from another individual who listed items on the auction site.
In general, at online auctions, you'll find more convenience and lower costs than you might at an in-person auction (which is ideal if you're trying to score those deals). You might see some new terminology if you're joining online auctions for the first time, but don't worry. It's not too bad. You can make "pre-bids," which is where you submit your highest amount before an auction goes live, or "real-time" bids, which is when you bid while an auction is ongoing. The reserve price is a number set by the seller (and not all items have one), where the seller is only willing to let an item go for that amount or more. And a "buyer's premium" is an extra fee paid if you win an auction (also optional and not present on every online auction or item).
Now that you know the ins and outs of online auctions, you're ready to jump in and snag deals you can't find anywhere else. To help you find the best sites to place your bids, we've put together a checklist to guide you to the best fit:
If you're ready to jump into great deals with online auctions, we're excited to help. To make sure you have the best experience possible, Top Consumer Reviews has researched and ranked the top online auctions out there today. This way, you can feel confident that you'll get the most customer-friendly experience from your next online auction, and enjoy the spoils of your shopping spree. Happy deal hunting!
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Top 3 Tips For Buying In Online Auctions
Online auctions have really skyrocketed in popularity. Any item that you could ever wish to own is probably being sold in an online auction. In the clothing category alone, over 2 million items are being auctioned off at this moment. New merchandise, used merchandise, rare merchandise, even "celebrity" merchandise - it's all there. Did you know that there have been over 50 books written on how to get the best online auction experience? For those of you who have never had the pleasure of shopping in an online auction, we'll walk you through 3 basic tips for your success.
First, do your research! When going to an online auction site, you'll be able to type in the item you are looking for, or can narrow the search by selecting categories and choosing from there. Be as specific as possible. Take, for example, clothing. If you know the brand, size and even line you are looking for, this will make your search much easier. Then, research the seller. Is this someone was has mostly positive feedback or have they had problems shipping their items? This is easily viewed online. Reputable online auctions have built a solid reputation as safe places to buy and sell. That's why most all transactions from both seller and buyer are given feedback. Look for such seller qualities as a fast shipper, item as described and good communication. Be wary of a seller who has a lot of negative feedback. You may be getting the best price, but you might be sacrificing its good condition.
Second, visit the online auction site often. There are a couple of reasons for this. In the unlikely event that what you're looking for is not being sold, check back. Take, for example, one of our reader's experiences they had with wanting to purchase a particular item.. The first time they looked, there were none being sold. They checked back a few days later and there were 5 being auctioned off.
Another good reason for checking the online auction site often is that you'll usually get a better deal. Here is another example; one of our readers wanted to purchase a set of books called America at School from American Girls. One month, this book set was going for over $100 dollars. They kept watching and looking. Two months later, they purchased the book set for $26.00 at the very same auction site. Not a bad deal. Often times in online auctions, items are sold for more than what the buyer is willing to pay. Keep looking and you could get that bargain buy that you're looking for.
Third, wait to bid. This is the single most important fact to buying in online auctions. Many new buyers bid too early (the amount you have purchased or sold is usually available to the general public). This backfires for two reasons. One, it causes the price of the item to increase, because seasoned shoppers know to wait until the last few minutes to bid. Two, it also triggers a competitive aspect to buying. It's pretty common for two new buyers at an online auction to get into a bidding war a day or two before the auction closes. Then, at the last minute, another buyer will bid and win the merchandise. The exception to this rule of course is if you are unable to be at a computer when the auction closes. Then you just have set your highest bid and hope for the best.
Remember, you win some and you lose some, but that's the fun of online auctions. Good Luck and remember to have fun!
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